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To qualify for 2013 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, regardless of its rating in the small overlap front test.

Applies to 2009-15 models

Important: Frontal crash test ratings should be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2009 model year.

Structure

The driver's space was seriously compromised by intruding structure. Lower interior intrusion measured as much as 42 cm at the parking brake pedal, and lower hinge pillar intrusion was 35 cm. Upper interior intrusion measured 26-28 cm at the hinge pillar and instrument panel. The steering column was pushed back 11 cm toward the driver.

Injury measures

Measures from the dummy indicate that injuries to the left hip would be likely in a crash of this severity and injuries to the left knee and both lower legs would be possible.

Restraints and dummy kinematics

The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side as the steering column moved 14 cm to the right, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward side structure. The side curtain airbag deployed but does not have sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with forward side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag deployed.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle

2014 Honda Pilot EX 4-door 4wd

Weight

4,504 lbs.

Side airbags

head curtain airbags for all three rows of seats and front seat-mounted torso airbags

Applies to 2012-15 models

Overall evaluation

G

Curb weight

4,475 lbs

Peak force

20,702 lbs

Strength-to-weight ratio

4.63

Tested vehicle

2012 Honda Pilot EX 4-door 4wd

Roof strength test ratings can be compared across vehicle categories.

In the test, the strength of the roof is determined by pushing a metal plate against one side of it at a slow but constant speed. The force applied relative to the vehicle's weight is known as the strength-to-weight ratio. This graph shows how the ratio varied as the test of this vehicle progressed. The peak strength-to-weight ratio recorded at any time before the roof is crushed 5 inches is the key measurement of roof strength.

A good rating requires a strength-to-weight ratio of at least 4. In other words, the roof must withstand a force of at least 4 times the vehicle's weight before the plate crushes the roof by 5 inches. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. For a marginal rating, it is 2.5. Anything lower than that is poor.